Google is currently undergoing a three-week trial that could determine significant changes for the company following its loss in a monopoly case related to Google Search. One potential outcome of this legal situation may involve the sale of its web browser, Chrome. Notably, OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if Google is compelled to sell it.

However, they are not the only ones eyeing the browser; recent developments indicate that other companies are also considering a bid. Both Perplexity and DuckDuckGo have shown interest in purchasing Chrome. During the trial, Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, confirmed that his company believes it could successfully manage Chrome without sacrificing quality or imposing additional costs.

When directly asked about the possibility of acquiring Chrome, Shevelenko affirmed, “Yes,” indicating a strong desire to pursue the acquisition. DuckDuckGo’s founder and CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, also participated in the trial. He commented that there is no “silver bullet remedy” for Google’s behavior.

When asked about the prospect of purchasing Chrome, he shared that preliminary estimates suggest the browser could be worth upwards of $50 billion, which is beyond DuckDuckGo’s financial capacity. Interestingly, when pressed on whether they would still be interested if price were not an issue, he replied, “Sure.” While neither executive provided a straightforward solution to Google’s antitrust challenges, both acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

Shevelenko’s insights particularly resonate, as he emphasized the necessity of re-evaluating Google’s dominance over internet information. He noted, “They ultimately are like the portal to knowledge and the Internet for all of us,” raising concerns about the implications of their current operational constraints.